Request
I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
For the period from 1 January 2020 until 29 September 2025, please provide the following information:
1. Employment Tribunal Claims
For each year: The total number of employment tribunal claims lodged against the university.
For each claim:
The year;
The broad category of complaint (e.g. unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, other);
The outcome, categorised as:
upheld at tribunal,
dismissed at tribunal,
settled before hearing,
withdrawn,
struck out/other.
2. Settlements & NDAs
The number of employment-related settlements reached (whether or not the case proceeded to tribunal).
Of those settlements, how many involved the use of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or confidentiality clause.
The aggregate (total) financial value of such settlements (please provide in rounded totals; I am not seeking individual case details).
If available, please provide this figure broken down by year.
3. Legal Costs
The total external legal costs incurred by the university in relation to employment tribunal claims or settlements in the period (e.g. solicitor and barrister fees).
If available, please provide this figure broken down by financial year.
I am not requesting personal data and am content with aggregated or anonymised information.
If providing the information in full would exceed the cost/time limit, please prioritise providing the totals per year (questions 1, 2 and 3 in aggregate).
Formatted Response
Response
For the period from 1 January 2020 until 29 September 2025, please provide the following information:
1. Employment Tribunal Claims
For each year: The total number of employment tribunal claims lodged against the university.
| Year | Claims |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 10 |
For each claim:
The year; the broad category of complaint; and the outcome, categorised as upheld at tribunal, dismissed at tribunal, settled before hearing, withdrawn, struck out/other.
| Year | Category | Outcome | Claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bullying | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2020 | Discrimination | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2020 | Discrimination | ET Claim - Dismissed | 1 |
| 2020 | Other | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2020 | Process | Settlement agreement | 1 |
| 2020 | Victimisation | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 1 |
| 2021 | Discrimination | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 1 |
| 2021 | Discrimination | ET Hearing - Concluded | 1 |
| 2021 | Discrimination | ET Hearing - Concluded | 1 |
| 2021 | Victimisation | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2022 | Bullying | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2022 | Discrimination | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2022 | Discrimination | ET Hearing - Concluded | 1 |
| 2022 | Process | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2022 | Process | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 1 |
| 2022 | Victimisation | ET Claim - Dismissed | 1 |
| 2022 | Victimisation | Resignation | 1 |
| 2023 | Bullying | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 1 |
| 2023 | Discrimination | ET Claim - Dismissed | 1 |
| 2023 | Discrimination | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 4 |
| 2023 | Discrimination | ET Hearing - Concluded | 1 |
| 2023 | Discrimination | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2023 | Victimisation | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2023 | Whistleblowing | COT3 agreement | 2 |
| 2024 | Discrimination | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2024 | Discrimination | Ongoing | 2 |
| 2024 | Other | Early Conciliation | 1 |
| 2024 | Other | End of Early Conciliation Period | 1 |
| 2024 | Process | End of Early Conciliation Period | 1 |
| 2025 | Discrimination | Early Conciliation | 1 |
| 2025 | Other | Ongoing | 2 |
| 2025 | Process | COT3 agreement | 1 |
| 2025 | Process | ET Claim - Withdrawn | 1 |
| 2025 | Process | Ongoing | 4 |
| 2025 | Victimisation | Early Conciliation | 1 |
2. Settlements & NDAs
The number of employment-related settlements reached, whether or not the case proceeded to tribunal.
56 Settlements or COT3 agreements were reached.
Of those settlements, how many involved the use of a non-disclosure agreement or confidentiality clause.
All Settlement Agreements contain a confidentiality clause.
The aggregate financial value of such settlements.
£1,333,048.43.
If available, please provide this figure broken down by year.
| Year | Settlement Value |
|---|---|
| 2021 | £123,483.49 |
| 2022 | £259,499.48 |
| 2023 | £436,100.45 |
| 2024 | £414,878.73 |
| 2025 | £99,086.28 |
3. Legal Costs
The total external legal costs incurred by the university in relation to employment tribunal claims or settlements in the period.
£24,030
| Year | External Legal Costs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | £4,050 |
| 2022 | £3,240 |
| 2023 | £5,460 |
| 2024 | £7,080 |
| 2025 | £4,200 |
Original Response
We refer to your FOI request dated 29 th September 2025. Please see below for your response.
Again, we apologise for the delay in you receiving your response. As mentioned previously this delay was due to the cross checking of data.
Thank you for your patience.
Yours sincerely
The Information Assurance Team.
University of East London
4-6 University Way
London
E16 2RD
RESPONSE
For the period from 1 January 2020 until 29 September 2025, please provide the following information:
1. Employment Tribunal Claims
For each year: The total number of employment tribunal claims lodged against the university.
Year Claims
2020 6
2021 4
2022 7
2023 11
2024 6
2025 10
For each claim:
· The year;
· The broad category of complaint (e.g. unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, other);
· The outcome, categorised as:
upheld at tribunal, dismissed at tribunal, settled before hearing, withdrawn, struck out/other.
Year Category Outcome Claims
2020 Bullying COT3 agreement 1
2020 Discrimination COT3 agreement 1
2020 Discrimination ET Claim - Dismissed 1
2020 Other COT3 agreement 1
2020 Process Settlement agreement 1
2020 Victimisation ET Claim - Withdrawn 1
2021 Discrimination ET Claim - Withdrawn 1
2021 Discrimination ET Hearing - Concluded 1
2021 Discrimination 1 ET Hearing - concluded
2021 Victimisation COT3 agreement 1
2022 Bullying COT3 agreement 1
2022 Discrimination COT3 agreement 1
2022 Discrimination ET Hearing - Concluded 1
2022 Process COT3 agreement 1
2022 Process ET Claim - Withdrawn 1
2022 Victimisation ET Claim - Dismissed 1
2022 Victimisation Resignation 1
2023 Bullying ET Claim - Withdrawn 1
2023 Discrimination ET Claim - Dismissed 1
2023 Discrimination ET Claim - Withdrawn 4
2023 Discrimination ET Hearing - Concluded 1
2023 Discrimination – COT3 agreement 1
2023 Victimisation COT3 agreement 1
2023 Whistleblowing COT3 agreement 2
2024 Discrimination COT3 agreement 1
2024 Discrimination Ongoing 2
2024 Other Early Conciliation 1
2024 Other End of Early Conciliation Period 1
2024 Process End of Early Conciliation Period 1
2025 Discrimination Early Conciliation 1
2025 Other Ongoing 2
2025 Process COT3 agreement 1
2025 Process ET Claim - Withdrawn 1
2025 Process Ongoing 4
2025 Victimisation Early Conciliation 1
2. Settlements & NDAs
The number of employment-related settlements reached (whether or not the case proceeded to tribunal).
56 Settlements or COT3 agreements were reached.
Of those settlements, how many involved the use of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or confidentiality clause.
All Settlement Agreements contain a confidentiality clause.
The aggregate (total) financial value of such settlements (please provide in rounded totals; I am not seeking individual case details).
£1,333,048.43.
If available, please provide this figure broken down by year.
- 2021: £123,483.49
- 2022: £259,499.48
- 2023: £436,100.45
- 2024: £414,878.73
- 2025: £99,086.28
3. Legal Costs
The total external legal costs incurred by the university in relation to employment tribunal claims or settlements in the period (e.g. solicitor and barrister fees). If available, please provide this figure broken down by financial year.
£24,030
- 2021: £4,050
- 2022: £3,240
- 2023: £5,460
- 2024: £7,080
- 2025: £4.200
If you are dissatisfied with the way the University of East London has handled your request for information, you can request an internal review of this decision by contacting:
E-mail foi@uel.ac.uk
If the review does not address your concerns, you can exercise a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office.